Fallenpaw's Warrior Ceremony

Sagestar limped out into the middle of the clearing of RiverClan camp, having asking Froststar beforehand if he had permission to do this. This had actually been on his mind for a while, constantly hearing praise from his deputy on the apprentice's training. And while no matter what harsh of a loss they had suffered, or his own vain thoughts, she had fought like a warrior during the battle against the rogues and he felt she were ready to become a full pledged warrior.
"Let all cats of ShadowClan join out in the clearing for a clan meeting!" He yowled.

Nightwing beamed, her eyes bright as she found her seat near the front, her blue gaze kept on the apprentice's den. Her heart pounded. Would she like her name? Was this what Sagestar felt like when he was naming her? Of course it would be different, he was the clan leader after all. Flicking her tail, she gave herself a few quick licks on the chest before it puffed out again in pride. Annoyed, she flattened her ears and continued to lick it, ignoring the gathering crowd. Lifting her head, the chest fur jetted out again. Rolling her eyes she looked up at Sagestar, her eyes giving away the happiness she was experiencing.

Reedheart sat at the edge of the clearing, near the warrior's den. Though he wasn't a ShadowClan cat, he felt obligated to watch. Any meetings concerning the attack or RiverClan's actions would have been called by Froststar. A ShadowClan-exclusive meeting could only mean one thing; a ceremony. Still, Reedheart's head buzzed with curiosity. He did not know many of these cats. He had only been to a Gathering once before, as an apprentice. Even though his injuries had healed long ago, they still had missed the last Gathering because of heavy snow. Reedheart looked around the clearing, scanning for ShadowClan cats.

Gingerheart quickly padded out of her sleeping place and into the clearing with a curious look on her face. She felt a little aggravated that they were not back in their own camp, but there was nothing she could do about that so she silently listened to the meeting.

Froststar sat at the edge of camp, uncertainly flicking her tail tip back and forth. Spotting a more familiar face, Froststar trotted over to her past apprentice and sat down. Though this wasn't a ceremony for her eyes, she felt obligated to stand by and observe; after all, in her camp, it was her job to keep thing in order. She looked over at the younger tom. "It's a bit strange, isn't it? To be a part of something, yet still apart?" She mused quietly, keeping her voice low and away from ShadowClan.

Fallenpaw halfheartedly padded into the clearing at Sagestar's call, wincing slightly as she glanced at the unfamiliar surroundings. It wasn't ShadowClan territory, she thought sadly, but there were ShadowClan cats. She absently wondered why her leader would call for a meeting in foreign land - while there were other cats, whom the apprentice appreciated but did not completely trust. Fallenpaw shook her head, her mind was just weary from the previous events. With a small forced smile, she flicked her tail anxiously and she sat down, before shyly curling her tail around her paws. A possible assumption plagued her thoughts, and her sea-foam orbs suddenly glowed in anticipation.

Assuming everyone else padded out to the meeting, Sagestar felt it was time to start. Admittedly, he felt it strange to address the entire clan at their level, but with no Jagged Rock to go unto there wasn't really a choice. Sagestar shook any harmful thoughts out of his head before speaking. This would be his first time speaking to the whole clan since the battle.
"We lost the battle, ShadowClan, but we will not lose the war." He meowed curtly, "We know full well know the strength now of just what we're up against. Let's our wounds serve as reminders of the lessons we need to learn to better ourselves, and next time we meet in battle with those fox-dungs, we'll be full ready. StarClan have mercy on them, revenge will be sweet." A small bristle appeared at the back of the neck as his words grew into steady hisses, his emotions clear before forcing himself to look calm again; the anger in his green eyes replaced by unmistakable pride.

"Tonight, though, we celebrate someone who has been learning our ways for many moons - and who fought as hard as any other of our warriors. She has proven herself to be a true ShadowClan cat." Sagestar meowed, pointing out a certain she-cat in the crowd. "Fallenpaw, please come forward."

Fallen paw felt herself leap to her paws - her suspicions had been correct. She felt energized and depressed at the same time, but nonetheless hastily padded toward her leader, slowing her pace as she approached to look more mature and calm than she was. Inwardly, she wondered anxiously what would happen after this, but the fate of those rogues seemed fortold within Sagestar's words, and whatever her warrior name would be.

Reedheart nodded in agreement, watching the ceremony thoughtfully. Fallenpaw, huh? He had noticed the apprentice before. It made sense; she was the smallest and youngest of the cats that had come back from the battle. "I suppose in the end, we are all Clan cats fighting the same enemy." he mewed quietly to his former mentor. "All of us will share StarClan's hunting grounds one day, after all." Reedheart looked to Froststar with shining green eyes before turning his attention to Sagestar, licking a paw and running it over his ear. He may have to fight beside these cats later, to defend their home.

Sagestar looked at the apprentice with a warm expression, only able to imagine how she must be feeling at the moment. She deserved this, though. The tom, as he always did, looked up to the night sky to address the warriors in Silverpelt.
"I, Sagestar, Leader of ShadowClan, call upon my warrior ancestors to look down on this apprentice. She has trained hard to learn the ways of your noble code and I commend her to you as a warrior in her turn." His emerald gaze fell back down, resting on the gray she-cat. "Fallenpaw, do you promise to uphold the warrior code and to protect and defend your clan, even at the cost of your life?"
The look he gave her was very thoughtful. He hoped that she understood the weight of the vows, especially now more than ever.

Rustfang was totally there the whole time, watching the ceremony. He shook his fur against a strong, cold wind, but watched, pride in his eyes.
This was only proof that ShadowClan was still strong, and that they could win.

ooc: SHET ALMOST MISSED IT D;

IC: Mallowpaw ran out of the medicine cat den, the scent of herbs clinging to his ungroomed pelt. The cat didn't have much time to really groom himself since he was always tending to cats. I almost missed it! he thought furiously. Good thing I made it before the naming...
He sat next to Nightwing and Feathersong, hesitating to catch his breath.

Fallenpaw felt herself puff her chest in pride as she followed her leader's eyes to the silver pelt. She found herself hanging on his every word, and her eyes glowed at the attention - it was almost as if her ancestors were beside them, watching. She glanced toward her mentor with a small smile. Thank you, Nightwing.

She had trained her hardest, and she had fought just as hard; like Nightwing had told her. She, along with her clanmates, had risked their lives to defend ShadowClan - even if they had lost this time, she would do it again. Fallenpaw felt a burning sensation bubble inside of her; she would go back, and when she did, Anna wouldn't know what hit her.

"I do." she vowed, looking to her leader with a serious stare.

He could smile at her true answer. "Then by the powers of StarClan, I give you your warrior name," he said, "Fallenpaw, from this moment on you will be known as Fallencloud. StarClan honors your bravery and loyalty, and we welcome you as a full member of ShadowClan." With a soft grin, Sagestar padded forward and rested his chin gently on the newly-named warrior's shoulder.

"Fallencloud! Fallencloud!" Mallowpaw cheered, purring for the new warrior.